 | The Poems of James VI. of Scotland |  |
A Preface to the furies
Ô thou that michtilie dois toone my uarbling holy hairpe& dois sublime my poemis als that I thairin do cairpe
& mariing so my heauinlie uerse unto the harpes accordis
inspyres my sacred muse to sing unto the lorde of lordis
o nou inflamme my furiouse spreit that furiouslie I may
thir furies mankyndis plaiguis alace uith furiouse pen display
that I his fame do not betraye quho azure skie doth dekk
uith blaizing lichtis & on the earth his trophees dois erect
the loue of heauen the honoure of earth the uounder of oure aage
quho quhill that furiouse bloodie mars doth in his countrey raage
alluring orpheus uith his songis he sueitlie doth enchaunt
the musis nyne to leaue thaire leidis that thay before did haunt
& takke thaime to his uulgaire tounge, thaire ethnike headis uithall
he crounis uith holie tuistis & faire of liban cedres tall:
then ô thou gydaire of my spreit & leadare of my penn
graunt that as he his subiect faire doth liberall to me lenn
that so he lenn his loftie style; his golden drauchtis, his grace
quhairuith in uariant cullouris he adornis the paiperis face
that I may uislie paint him furth, peace pan peace pratling muse
heare phœbus in a borrouid tounge his ouin discoursis use.
| The Poems of James VI. of Scotland | |